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9781843511311

With My Lazy Eye

By: Julia Kelly

Publication Date: October 2007

(4 customer reviews)

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With My Lazy Eye by Julia Kelly, signed copy of original 2007 edition.

‘Julia Kelly’s is surely the freshest voice in Irish fiction since the wonderful early novels of Edna O’Brien. This is a future to watch.’ – John Banville

This remarkable first novel releases the voice of Lucy Bastonme (or Bunty) as she makes her journey through adolescence in 1980s Ireland. Intensely focused, prismatic and delicately nuanced, the internal flight of the narrator finds expression in closely observed snapshots from a family album.

At its core With My Lazy Eye is an exploration of father love in which the patriarch of a Dublin bourgeois Catholic household becomes ever more elusive and distant and his daughter ever more muddled, myopic and needy.

Bunty makes discoveries about her father that free her from the prison and shelter of a protracted childhood. A new vision is won as she steps away from the past towards the light, metamorphosed.

This is a quirky, poignant coming-of-age story like no other.

PRAISE FOR JULIA KELLY

‘This is a book about life, told by a master story-teller with a razor sharp intellect.’ Customer review

This is a pleasant coming-of-age story, with the story’s protagonist, Lucy, struggling against a lack of self confidence, and lack of ability, and her worsening eyesight.’ Customer review

‘This beautifully written novel/memoir is amazingly evocative of a middle-class childhood in the 70s in Dublin. I could practically feel the wide-wale brown corduroy and fake-leather elbow patches of my youth – and the author’s – as I read it. Her use of language is mesmerising, especially in the early chapters; later on things become cringe-inducingly hilarious or bring a lump to the throat.’ Customer review

‘It’s a simple idea for a novel but what makes this another outstanding book from Kelly is the sparkling writing, the acute observation of the little things that people do and the sense of humour.’ The Independent

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIA KELLY was born in 1969, studied English, Sociology and Journalism in Dublin, and escaped to London for the mad, bad years of life. She now lives in Bray, County Wicklow. This is her first novel.

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4 reviews for With My Lazy Eye

  1. Lilliput Press

    “Very interesting read for anyone reared of the era, especially for those with a history in Dublin in or around that time. Or if you were too young, an insight into a world gone-by.

    A different writing style to the usual chick lit books, you actually have to read the pages to connect with the story and gain from the book. It’s not a mindless saunter through the chapters – a good replacement for the usual beach read. I couldn’t put the book down when I read it and I look forward to the next one.” C MCKEOWN

  2. Lilliput Press

    “I absolutely loved this book! It is beautifully written, so funny and so original. There’s a great description in practically every paragraph – it made me laugh out loud so many times and there were some very poignant episodes too, especially towards the end. This writer is such a breath of fresh air. I’m so looking forward to her next one!” JC

  3. Lilliput Press

    “I really enjoyed reading this book. I had no idea what to expect.
    The book is beautifully written. It is a story set in the Dublin of the late 1970′ and 1980’s about the journey of a young Dublin girl, Lucy, from her childhood to adulthood with all the frustrations, joys, coming of age, friendships, frustrations and family memories that could take place in any major city.
    It’s main thread is Lucy’s relationship with her father.
    The description of the Papal mass in the Phoenix Park in 1979 is so good it is worth buying the book for it alone. Indeed anyone in Ireland named John Paul should be made read this section as part of their 30th birthday celebrations as they may get a little insight as to what inspired their parents to have them in the first place.
    This lovely Novel is packed full of typical Dublin chilhood memories …Bovril, Rice Krispies, MiWadi.Loop the Loops, Chopper Bikes, Debs, London, Exams,The Waltons, Love, Laughter and Sasperillas!!
    Is it any wonder that it took me ages to read as I kept drifting back into my own Dublin childhood.
    Delightful novel that is serious, funny and sad but always absolutely entertaining.
    Actually the previous reviewer missed the point …. Lucy’s story is our story in that nothing appears to be happening on any particular day but when each day is added to the next the story is engrossing.
    Looking forward to the next one already!”

  4. Lilliput Press

    “This is an extremely impressive first novel by an Irish writer destined to go on to even greater things. Caveat;if you are looking for a “chick -lit” diversion, then Lazy Eye is not for you. However, the more discerning reader will be rewarded by this perceptive, uplifting and at times quirky evocation of middle class Dublin family relationships, particularly between the narrator Lucy and her serially-disappointed father who defines her as woefully-underachieving. Lucy’s first job- flying by the seat of her pants as a travel writer in London,and early tentative relationships with young men are conveyed with humour and verve.It is the mark of a superior writer to make us view the ordinary afresh and Julia Kelly achieves this throughout with consummate literary panache.” SAM GIBSON

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ISBN
9781843511311
Weight 0.5 kg
Dimensions 230 × 140 mm
Publication Date

October 2007

Format

Hardback, 224pp